Prices of Dealer PreOwned vs. Private Sale

soberin · 11-10-2011, 08:02 AM

Please explain the reason why my dealer will only offer 41K for my 2009 E90 M3 with 39,000 miles. When the dealers turn around and lists these cars for sale, they are in the mid-50K range. It makes me feel stupid. I don't get the economics. If I want to sell the car to the dealer to buy a new BMW, wouldn't he give me a better price as I am a repeat customer? Especially since he will mark-up my M3 so much for resale?

UsurbrainM3 · 11-10-2011, 08:12 AM

Dealer's will never take in a car and be buried in it, it's just not good business practice.... If they have to certify the car, that will cost money as will bring it up to a CPO standard. Why wouldn't you sell your car private party?

soberin · 11-10-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UsurbrainM3

Dealer's will never take in a car and be buried in it, it's just not good business practice.... If they have to certify the car, that will cost money as will bring it up to a CPO standard. Why wouldn't you sell your car private party?

I will, especially as it has thousands of dollars of Dinan mods, which you never get back from the dealer. It's just very annoying to see the same car that the dealer offers you 39K for, being sold on a BMW dealer website for at least 54K. My feeling is that whatever they have to pay to certify the car, they are still taking advantage of me, as the original buyer. Why would I go back to such a dealer?--it doesn't seem like good business practice.

saeyedoc · 11-10-2011, 10:57 AM

Dealers have to make money to stay in business. The used car market is good right now, but only if you're a dealer selling a car. Most cars end up in auction. It costs them a lot of money to certify a car, it has to be brought up to spec (tires, especially).
I'd get a buy bid from Carmax and work from there.
I've used them recently to leverage a trade for the M3 I'm getting Saturday, also sold a leased car I was about to turn in, made $500-600 on that transaction.

mmm def · 11-14-2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberin

I will, especially as it has thousands of dollars of Dinan mods, which you never get back from the dealer. .

You're not going to get much privately either for those mods on the car. Way better off parting the car out and selling the Dinan stuff separately. If you have the time, it's worth it.

And +1 on selling it yourself, a clean E90 is pretty desirable.

11-10-2011, 08:02 AM	#1
soberin Second Lieutenant 31 Rep 242 Posts Drives: M3 E90 Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Prices of Dealer PreOwned vs. Private Sale Please explain the reason why my dealer will only offer 41K for my 2009 E90 M3 with 39,000 miles. When the dealers turn around and lists these cars for sale, they are in the mid-50K range. It makes me feel stupid. I don't get the economics. If I want to sell the car to the dealer to buy a new BMW, wouldn't he give me a better price as I am a repeat customer? Especially since he will mark-up my M3 so much for resale?
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11-10-2011, 08:12 AM	#2
UsurbrainM3 Private First Class 10 Rep 133 Posts Drives: 2008 e90 M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Dealer's will never take in a car and be buried in it, it's just not good business practice.... If they have to certify the car, that will cost money as will bring it up to a CPO standard. Why wouldn't you sell your car private party? __________________ 2008 E90 AW Exhaust: Innotech full system with magnaflow cats. Exhaust video:
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11-10-2011, 10:57 AM	#4
saeyedoc Captain 284 Rep 835 Posts Drives: 2013 Carrera S, 2013 Panny GTS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0)	Dealers have to make money to stay in business. The used car market is good right now, but only if you're a dealer selling a car. Most cars end up in auction. It costs them a lot of money to certify a car, it has to be brought up to spec (tires, especially). I'd get a buy bid from Carmax and work from there. I've used them recently to leverage a trade for the M3 I'm getting Saturday, also sold a leased car I was about to turn in, made $500-600 on that transaction.
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